Fluid displacement rotational assembly

Abstract

A fluid displacement rotational assembly includes a frame, a support structure supporting the frame for rotating an axle connected to the frame, chamber members coupled to the frame and each chamber member being arranged diametrically opposed by an associated one of the plurality of chamber members to form a plurality of diametrically opposed chamber member pairs, a plurality of conduits coupled to extend between the chamber members of the diametrically opposed chamber member pairs such that the chamber members of each diametrically opposed chamber member pair are in environmental communication with each other, a plurality of pistons slidably mounted in the chamber members such that the pistons in each diametrically opposed chamber member pair form a fluid chamber between each piston of the diametrically opposed chamber member pair and extending through the conduit of the diametrically opposed chamber member pair, and a fluid positioned in each fluid chamber.

I claim:  
     
       1. A rotation device comprising: 
       a frame coupled to an axle;  
       a support structure supporting said frame such that said frame is rotatable to rotate said axle;  
       a plurality of chamber members coupled to said frame, said chamber members being arranged around a perimeter of said frame, each of said chamber members being diametrically opposed by an associated one of said plurality of chamber members to form a plurality of diametrically opposed chamber member pairs;  
       a plurality of conduits, each conduit being coupled to extend between said chamber members of an associated one of said diametrically opposed chamber member pairs such that said chamber members of each said diametrically opposed chamber member pair are in environmental communication with each other;  
       a plurality of pistons, each piston being slidably mounted in an associated one of said chamber members such that said pistons in each diametrically opposed chamber member pair form a fluid chamber between each piston of said diametrically opposed chamber member pair said associated conduit of said diametrically opposed chamber member pair;  
       a quantity of fluid positioned in each fluid chamber; and  
       a collapsible membrane enclosing and defining a fluid chamber and being positioned in each said chamber member between said piston and said conduit.  
     
     
       2. The rotation device of  claim 1  further comprising: 
       means on each piston for facilitating sliding movement of said piston in the associated one of said chamber members.  
     
     
       3. The rotation device of  claim 2  wherein said means on each piston for facilitating sliding movement comprises a plurality of roller members coupled to said piston. 
     
     
       4. The rotation device of  claim 1  wherein each said chamber member is arcuate. 
     
     
       5. The rotation device of  claim 4  wherein said plurality of chamber members are aligned to form an annular shape. 
     
     
       6. The rotation device of  claim 5 , further comprising: 
       each piston having a seal end positioned adjacent to said fluid chamber such that a weight of said piston urges said fluid between said chamber members through said conduits as said frame rotates.  
     
     
       7. The rotation device of  claim 1  wherein each of said conduits is substantially S-shaped. 
     
     
       8. The rotation device of  claim 1  wherein each of said chamber members has a substantially square cross-section. 
     
     
       9. The rotation device of  claim 1  wherein said frame has a pair of side portions, each side portion including a hub and a plurality of arms extending outwardly from said hub; 
       each said chamber member being coupled to distal ends of an associated aligned pair of arms of said side portions.  
     
     
       10. The rotation device of  claim 1  wherein said fluid is water. 
     
     
       11. A rotation device comprising: 
       a frame coupled to an axle;  
       a support structure supporting said frame such that said frame is rotatable to rotate said axle;  
       a plurality of chamber members coupled to said frame, said chamber members being arranged around a perimeter of said frame, each of said chamber members being diametrically opposed by an associated one of said plurality of chamber members to form a plurality of diametrically opposed chamber member pairs;  
       a plurality of conduits, each conduit being coupled to extend between said chamber members of an associated one of said diametrically opposed chamber member pairs such that said chamber members of each said diametrically opposed chamber member pair are in environmental communication with each other;  
       a plurality of pistons, each piston being slidably mounted in an associated one of said chamber members such that said pistons in each diametrically opposed chamber member pair form a fluid chamber between each piston of said diametrically opposed chamber member pair said associated conduit of said diametrically opposed chamber member pair;  
       a quantity of fluid positioned in each fluid chamber; and  
       a plurality of roller members coupled to each piston for facilitating sliding of each said piston in said associated chamber member.  
     
     
       12. A rotation device comprising: 
       a frame coupled to an axle;  
       a support structure supporting said frame such that said frame is rotatable to rotate said axle;  
       a plurality of chamber members coupled to said frame, said chamber members being arranged around a perimeter of said frame, each of said chamber members being diametrically opposed by an associated one of said plurality of chamber members to form a plurality of diametrically opposed chamber member pairs;  
       a plurality of conduits, each conduit being coupled to extend between said chamber members of an associated one of said diametrically opposed chamber member pairs such that said chamber members of each said diametrically opposed chamber member pair are in environmental communication with each other;  
       a plurality of pistons, each piston being slidably mounted in an associated one of said chamber members such that said pistons in each diametrically opposed chamber member pair form a fluid chamber between each piston of said diametrically opposed chamber member pair said associated conduit of said diametrically opposed chamber member pair;  
       a quantity of fluid positioned in each fluid chamber;  
       wherein each said chamber member is arcuate;  
       wherein said plurality of chamber members are aligned to form an annular shape; and  
       a plurality of flanges, each flange extending an end of an associated one of said plurality of chamber members for facilitating connection of each chamber member to an adjacently positioned chamber member.  
     
     
       13. A method of rotating an axle coupled to a frame, said frame being coupled to a plurality of chamber members, diametrically opposed chamber members being environmentally coupled to each other by a conduit to form a plurality of fluid chambers, pistons being positioned in each chamber member on opposite sides of each said fluid chamber for urging a fluid between said diametrically opposed chamber members, the steps of the method comprising: 
       rotating said frame to impart a rotational energy to said axle;  
       discharging said fluid from said chamber members on a first side of said frame by said pistons on said first side of said frame pushing down on an upwardly facing side of each said fluid chamber forcing said fluid through said conduits to a second side of said frame member; and  
       continuing to rotate said axle by the repeated transfer of fluid between said first and second sides of said frame;  
       wherein said piston includes a sealing end positioned adjacent to said fluid chamber.  
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13  wherein said fluid is water. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 13  wherein a plurality of rollers are coupled to outer sides of each said piston to facilitate movement of each said piston in said chamber members. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 13  additionally comprising means on each piston for facilitating sliding movement of said piston in the associated one of said chamber members. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 13  wherein a collapsible membrane is positioned in each said chamber member between said piston and said conduit. 
     
     
       18. A rotation device comprising: 
       a frame coupled to an axle;  
       a support structure supporting said axle in a manner such that said axle and said frame are rotatable with respect to said support structure;  
       an annular housing comprised of a plurality of chamber members connected together end to end in a ring, said annular housing being coupled to said frame, each of said chamber members being diametrically opposed by an associated one of said plurality of chamber members to form a plurality of diametrically opposed chamber member pairs;  
       a plurality of conduits, each conduit being coupled to extend between said chamber members of an associated one of said diametrically opposed chamber member pairs such that said chamber members of each said diametrically opposed chamber member pair are in fluid communication with each other;  
       a plurality of pistons, each piston being slidably mounted in an associated one of said chamber members such that said pistons in each diametrically opposed chamber member pair form a fluid chamber between each piston of said diametrically opposed chamber member pair said associated conduit of said diametrically opposed chamber member pair;  
       a quantity of fluid positioned in each fluid chamber;  
       each of said chamber members being arcuate between ends of said chamber member such that said piston associated with said chamber member moves along a circular path concentric with said annular housing as said piston slides and as said annular housing rotates on said support structure.  
     
     
       19. The rotation device of  claim 18  wherein a center of gravity of each of said pistons moves along said circular path without deviating from said circular path as said piston slides and as said annular housing rotates on said support structure. 
     
     
       20. The rotation device of  claim 18  wherein a center of gravity of each of said pistons moves along said circular path without oscillation of said piston as said piston slides and as said annular housing rotates on said support structure.